Swash plate-type compressor

ABSTRACT

A swash plate-type compressor has a rotatable swash plate and a piston. The swash plate is made from an alloy of copper containing bismuth. The alloy of copper contains bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %. The piston is connected to the swash plate via at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of the swash plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a swash plate-type compressor in an automobile air conditioning system.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] A known swash plate-type compressor in an automobile air conditioning system includes a rotatable swash plate and a piston connected to the swash plate via a shoe, such that the piston reciprocates in company with each rotation of the swash plate. The swash plate secures efficient lubrication to prevent seizure between swash plate surfaces sliding against a pair of shoes when the compressor is working under a heavy load. Therefore, either the swash plate may be made from an alloy of copper comprising plumbum and phosphor bronze or an alloy of copper comprising plumbum and high strength brass, or the swash plate may be made from ferrous alloy or aluminum alloy and swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes may be treated by spraying on an alloy of copper comprising plumbum and phosphor bronze or an alloy of copper comprising plumbum and high strength brass. The above-described alloys of copper may secure efficient lubrication and prevent seizure between swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes because both of the above-described alloys of copper comprise plumbum.

[0005] The plumbum alloy may deteriorate to secure efficient lubrication and to prevent seizure between swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes. Nevertheless, plumbum may pollute the environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Therefore, a need has arisen for a swash plate-type compressor in an automobile air conditioning system that overcomes these and other shortcomings of the related art. A technical advantage of the present invention is that it makes it possible to secure efficient lubrication and to prevent seizure between the swash plate surface sliding against at least one shoe, without using materials that may pollute the environment.

[0007] In an embodiment of this invention, a swash plate-type compressor comprises a rotatable swash plate and a piston. The swash plate is made from an alloy of copper comprising bismuth. The alloy of copper comprises bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %. A piston is connected to the swash plate via at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of the swash plate.

[0008] In another embodiment of this invention, a swash plate-type compressor comprises a rotatable swash plate and a piston. The swash plate is made from a ferrous alloy, and is surface-treated on at least a swash plate surface sliding against at least one shoe by spraying an alloy of copper comprising bismuth. The alloy of copper comprises bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %. The piston is connected to the swash plate via the at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of the swash plate.

[0009] In still another embodiment of this invention, a swash plate-type compressor comprises a rotatable swash plate and a piston. The swash plate is made from an aluminum alloy, and is surface-treated on at least a swash plate surface sliding against at least one shoe by spraying an alloy of copper comprising bismuth. The alloy of copper comprises bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %. The piston is connected to the swash plate via the at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of the swash plate.

[0010] In further embodiment of this invention, a method for manufacturing a swash plate-type compressor is described. The compressor comprises a rotatable swash plate and a piston. The swash plate is made from an alloy of copper comprising bismuth. The alloy of copper comprises bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %. The piston is connected to the swash plate via at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of the swash plate. The method comprises the step of applying a layer of a lubricant comprising a solid lubricant on at least a swash plate surface sliding against the at least one shoe.

[0011] In still further embodiment of this invention, a method for manufacturing a swash plate-type compressor is described. The compressor comprises a rotatable swash plate and a piston. The swash plate is made from a ferrous alloy. The piston is connected to the swash plate via at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of the swash plate. The method comprises the steps of surface-treating the ferrous alloy with an alloy of copper comprising bismuth on at least a swash plate surface sliding against the at least one shoe, such that the alloy of copper comprises bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %, and applying a layer of a lubricant comprising a solid lubricant on at least the swash plate surface sliding against the at least one shoe.

[0012] In yet further embodiment of this invention, a method for manufacturing a swash plate-type compressor is described. The compressor comprises a rotatable swash plate and a piston. The swash plate is made from an aluminum alloy. The piston is connected to the swash plate via at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of the swash plate. The method comprises the steps of surface-treating the aluminum alloy with an alloy of copper comprising bismuth on at least a swash plate surface sliding against the at least one shoe, such that the alloy of copper comprises bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %, and applying a layer of a lubricant comprising a solid lubricant on at least the swash plate surface sliding against the at least one shoe.

[0013] Other objects, features, and advantages of embodiments of this invention will be apparent to, and understood by, persons of ordinary skill in the art from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Embodiments of the invention are described now with reference to the accompanying figures, which are given by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a swash plate-type compressor, according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a swash plate for a swash plate-type compressor that includes peripheral parts, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a swash plate for a swash plate-type compressor that includes peripheral parts, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a front view of a swash plate for a swash plate-type compressor, according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention of a swash plate-type compressor in an automobile air conditioning system (not shown) is shown. A compressor 100 comprises a cylinder block 2 having a plurality of cylinder bores 1 a and a center bore 1 b, and a front housing 4 forming a crank chamber 3 in cooperation with cylinder block 2. A cylinder head 5 encloses a suction valve 6, a valve plate 7 and a discharge valve 8 in cooperation with cylinder block 2. Cylinder head 5 has a suction chamber 9 and a discharge chamber 10 within its interior. Suction chamber 9 is connected to a suction port (not shown), and discharge chamber 10 also is connected to a discharge port (not shown).

[0020] Compressor 100 comprises a drive shaft 11 extending across crank chamber 3 and penetrating through crank chamber 3. Drive shaft 11 is supported rotatably by front housing 4 and center bore 1 b of cylinder block 2.

[0021] A swash plate 12 is fixed rotatably to drive shaft 11 within crank chamber 3. A plurality of pairs of shoes 13 slidably abut peripheral portions of swash plate 12 and are positioned to leave a space between each other. Each of the pairs of shoes 13 are held in place by a holding portion (not shown) formed at a tail portion 14 a of a piston 14. A head portion 14 b of piston 14 is inserted slidably into cylinder bore 1 a.

[0022] Swash plate 12 is made from an alloy of copper comprising bismuth and phosphor bronze or an alloy of copper comprising bismuth and high strength brass. In either alloy, the alloy may comprise bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %. Such alloys replace an alloy of copper comprising plumbum and phosphor bronze or an alloy of copper comprising plumbum and high strength brass. As shown in FIG. 2, swash plate 12 comprises layers 15 of a lubricant on swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes 13, and layers 15 comprise a solid lubricant comprising a material selected from the group consisting of molybdenum disulfide, poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene, and combinations therewith, e.g., combinations of molybdenum disulfide or poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene with stannum, graphite, and the like.

[0023] In compressor 100, drive shaft 11 is driven by an external power source (not shown), swash plate 12 also is rotated by rotating of drive shaft 11. Piston 14 is connected to swash plate 12 via shoes 13 and reciprocates in company with each rotation of swash plate 12. Refrigerant returned into compressor 100 from an external refrigeration circuit (not shown) is absorbed into cylinder bore 1 a via the suction port, suction chamber 9, suction hole of valve plate 7 and suction valve 6, and is returned again into the external refrigeration circuit as a result of compression in compressor 100 via discharge hole of valve plate 7, discharge valve 8, discharge chamber 10 and the discharge port.

[0024] Alloys of copper comprising bismuth and phosphor bronze or bismuth and high strength brass, which comprise bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %, may secure efficient lubrication of swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes 13 and may prevent seizure of swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes 13, as an alternative to alloys of copper comprising plumbum and phosphor bronze or plumbum and high strength brass. Moreover, alloys comprising bismuth may be less or nonpolluting of the environment than those comprising plumbum. Therefore, swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes 13 may be made to achieve efficient lubrication and to prevent seizure of shoes 13 on swash plate 12, without using materials that pollute the environment. Moreover, swash plate 12 comprises layers 15 of the lubricant material on swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes 13, and layers 15 comprise a solid lubricant comprising a material selected from the group consisting of molybdenum disulfide, poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene, and combinations therewith. Therefore, swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes 13 may achieve efficient lubrication and prevent seizure of shoes 13 on swash plate 12.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 3, swash plate 12 is made from ferrous alloy or aluminum alloy, and comprises layers 16, such that swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes 13 are treated by spraying alloys of copper comprising bismuth and phosphor bronze or bismuth and high strength brass. In either alloy, the alloy may comprise bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %. Such alloys replace an alloy of copper comprising plumbum and phosphor bronze or an alloy of copper comprising plumbum and high strength brass. Alloys of copper comprising bismuth and phosphor bronze or bismuth and high strength brass, which comprise bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %, may achieve efficient lubrication of swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes 13, and may prevent seizure of swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes 13, as an alternative to alloys of copper comprising plumbum and phosphor bronze or plumbum and high strength brass. Moreover, alloys comprising bismuth may be less or nonpolluting of the environment than those comprising plumbum. Therefore, swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes 13 may be made to achieve efficient lubrication and to prevent seizure of shoes 13 on swash plate 12, without using materials that pollute the environment. Moreover, swash plate 12 comprises layers 15 of the lubricant material on layers 16 formed at swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes 13, and layers 15 comprise solid lubricant comprising material selected from the group consisting of molybdenum disulfide, poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene, and combinations therewith. Therefore, swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes 13 may achieve efficient lubrication and prevent seizure of shoes 13 on swash plate 12.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 4, swash plate surfaces of swash plate 12 sliding against shoes 13 have a plurality of annular slits 17, such that each of annular slits 17 may have a depth of less than or equal to about five microns. Generally, swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes 13 may be formed smoothly to achieve efficient sliding. Nevertheless, swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes 13 may dry up when such swash plate surfaces formed smoothly may repel lubricating oil. Annular slits 17 may retain a certain amount of lubricating oil on swash plate surface. Therefore, swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes 13 may not dry up. Nevertheless, swash plate surfaces sliding against shoes 13 may not achieve efficient sliding, when the depth of annular slits 17 exceeds about five microns.

[0027] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein, the scope of the invention is not limited thereto. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, embodiments disclosed herein are only exemplary. It is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not be limited thereby, but is to be determined by the claims, which follow. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A swash plate-type compressor comprising: a rotatable swash plate, wherein said swash plate is made from an alloy of copper comprising bismuth, and said alloy of copper comprises bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %; and a piston is connected to said swash plate via at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of said swash plate.
 2. A swash plate-type compressor of claim 1, wherein said swash plate comprises a layer of a lubricant on at least a swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, and said layer comprises a solid lubricant comprising molybdenum disulfide.
 3. A swash plate-type compressor of claim 1, wherein said swash plate comprises a layer of a lubricant on at least a swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, and said layer comprises a solid lubricant comprising poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene.
 4. A swash plate-type compressor of claim 1, wherein said swash plate comprises a plurality of annular slits formed in at least said swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, such that said annular slits have a depth less than or equal to about five microns.
 5. A swash plate-type compressor comprising: a rotatable swash plate, wherein said swash plate is made from a ferrous alloy, wherein said swash plate is surface-treated on at least a swash plate surface sliding against at least one shoe by spraying an alloy of copper comprising bismuth, and said alloy of copper comprises bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %; and a piston is connected to said swash plate via said at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of said swash plate.
 6. A swash plate-type compressor of claim 5, wherein said swash plate comprises a layer of a lubricant on at least a swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, and said layer comprises a solid lubricant comprising molybdenum disulfide.
 7. A swash plate-type compressor of claim 5, wherein said swash plate comprises a layer of a lubricant on at least a swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, and said layer comprises a solid lubricant comprising poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene.
 8. A swash plate-type compressor of claim 5, wherein said swash plate comprises a plurality of annular slits formed in at least said swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, such that said annular slits have a depth less than or equal to about five microns.
 9. A swash plate-type compressor comprising: a rotatable swash plate, wherein said swash plate is made from an aluminum alloy, wherein said swash plate is surface-treated on at least a swash plate surface sliding against at least one shoe by spraying an alloy of copper comprising bismuth, and said alloy of copper comprises bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %; and a piston is connected to said swash plate via said at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of said swash plate.
 10. A swash plate-type compressor of claim 9, wherein said swash plate comprises a layer of a lubricant on at least a swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, and said layer comprises a solid lubricant comprising molybdenum disulfide.
 11. A swash plate-type compressor of claim 9, wherein said swash plate comprises a layer of a lubricant on at least a swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, and said layer comprises a solid lubricant comprising poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene.
 12. A swash plate-type compressor of claim 9, wherein said swash plate comprises a plurality of annular slits formed in at least said swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, such that said annular slits have a depth less than or equal to about five microns.
 13. A method for manufacturing a swash plate-type compressor, wherein said compressor comprises a rotatable swash plate and a piston, said swash plate is made from an alloy of copper comprising bismuth, and said alloy of copper comprises bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %, and said piston is connected to said swash plate via at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of said swash plate, said method comprising the step of: applying a layer of a lubricant comprising a solid lubricant on at least a swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said solid lubricant comprises molybdenum disulfide.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein said solid lubricant comprises poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene.
 16. A method for manufacturing a swash plate-type compressor, wherein said compressor comprises a rotatable swash plate and a piston, said swash plate is made from a ferrous alloy, said piston is connected to said swash plate via at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of said swash plate, said method comprising the steps of: surface-treating said ferrous alloy with an alloy of copper comprising bismuth on at least a swash plate surface sliding against at least one shoe, wherein said alloy of copper comprises said bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %; and applying a layer of a lubricant comprising a solid lubricant on at least said swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of surface-treating further comprises spraying an alloy of copper comprising bismuth on at least said swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein said solid lubricant comprises molybdenum disulfide.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein said solid lubricant comprises poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene.
 20. A method for manufacturing a swash plate-type compressor, wherein said compressor comprises a rotatable swash plate and a piston, said swash plate is made from an aluminum alloy, said piston is connected to said swash plate via at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of said swash plate, said method comprising the steps of: surface-treating said aluminum alloy with an alloy of copper comprising bismuth on at least a swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, wherein said alloy of copper comprises said bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %; and applying a layer of a lubricant comprising a solid lubricant said swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of surface-treating further comprises spraying an alloy of copper comprising bismuth on at least said swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe.
 22. The method of claim 20, wherein said solid lubricant comprises molybdenum disulfide.
 23. The method of claim 20, wherein said solid lubricant comprises poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene. 